Reye’s syndrome can present with the following signs and symptoms:
- Lethargy;
- State of stupor;
- Delirium;
- State of partial unconsciousness;
- Coma;
- Irritability;
- Aggression;
- Protracted vomiting;
- Hyperpnea;
- Irregular breathing;
- Changes in muscle tone;
Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome reflect the various stages of the disease:
Stage I: vomiting, drowsiness, lethargy, and EEG type I;
Stage II: confusion, delirium, hyperventilation, aggression, EEG type II;
Stage III: numbness, waking coma, decorticate rigidity, loss of oculocephalic reflexes, fixed pupils, EEG type III-IV;
Stage IV: coma, spontaneous decerebrate posture or in response to painful stimulus, cloudy pupillary response to light stimulus;
Stage V: coma, flaccid paralysis, loss of deep tendon reflexes, convulsions, respiratory arrest, isoelectric EEG;
In children, Reye’s syndrome does not always present with all the clinical features described. Vomiting may not even be present. There could be diarrhea or difficulty breathing.